Terraclean - snake oil or not?

I was surprised to see Ed China promoting the stuff. It's his reputation & credibility on the line if it turns out to be snake oil.

versus the lucrative cheque he'll receive for promoting it.

Anyway, who?

"Mike Tomlinson" wrote

Clicking on

- How TerraClean Works - doesn't say anything about how it works

"Harry Bloomfield" wrote

That sounds ominously like perpetual motion. Read Duncan Wood's reply.

The modern technique of egr has some things in common with water injection.

DavidR has brought this to us :

Then you seriously misunderstand the purpose and function of an EGR.

DavidR pretended :

Simply because an explanation would not stand up to scrutiny.

Don't you watch Wheeler Dealers?

No.

Oh.

Still, at least that answers the question over the risk to his "reputation".

"Harry Bloomfield" wrote

So please give us the benefit of your knowledge.

It's to improve emissions. Don't think they were too worried about those during WW2.

2 utterly contra technologies.

Water injection is used solely at MAX load. It is switched on by a (nearly) full throttle switch. Prevents detonation, not used much since det sensor has become common place on most SI engines. Not used on any OEM Diesel as it's effect is to reduce the exhaust gas temperature which reduces turbo efficiency.

EGR is used at low load to bulk up the volume induced and reduce combustion temp to reduce NOx levels. Used on both Diesel and SI engines. The reduction of NOx in Diesels by EGR incurs an increase in particulate emission which has been "fixed" by use of filters. Never used at full load as the reduction in air with oxygen reduces power which is what the user is demanding at full load.

One quote on the website says ," TerraCleaned (sic) will not cause any damage to the Nikasil coating. We are only using a highly refined fuel, there are no harmful chemicals present." and the MSDS safety sheet implies much the same:

I guess if they are using it solely as a fuel for the duration of the procedure, then the results may well differ from just using an additive added to regular fuel....

Quite. The purpose of EGR is to reduce emissions. What I said. Water injection, not.

Seems to me waste heat turns water to steam providing extra cylinder pressure. Whats the problem?

-- Spud

It doesn't provide extra cylinder pressure, as it cools the whole charge down whilst vaporising.

Water is expensive to carry so has to be used sparingly.

There's the common link - to reduce combustion temperature. What is described are two different motives for doing it.

It doesn't, not noticeably.